UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Gardeners of all ages, experience levels and garden sizes are invited to learn new gardening skills and get their hands dirty at the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm’s upcoming Garden Grow-How event. The event will provide seeds and advice for all on Monday, Mar. 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. in Heritage Hall.
The event, hosted by the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm, is a collaboration with campus and community groups like the Penn State Community Garden, the Arboretum at Penn State, Zoils and Pigments, Student Farm Club and others.
Anton Fatula, an AmeriCorps member working with the Ross Student Farm, is leading students and partners to organize the event.
“Getting our community engaged in food systems is what we love to do,” said Fatula. “Whether you’re an avid gardener or you’ve never grown a single plant in your life, you’re sure to walk away having learned something new about the food we eat!”
The event has activities for everyone, including gardening ideas for people living in small spaces like dorm rooms or apartments. Stations will also be family-friendly, with activities for kids including a composting demonstration with live worms, botanical crafts, seed swapping and more.
“Our station at the Garden Grow-How event will provide examples of indoor seed-starting methods to empower gardeners to grow their own plants in preparation for the following garden season,” said Isabella Petitta, vice president of the Penn State Community Garden.
Anyone interested in gardening, from both campus and the wider community are welcome. Paid parking is available to visitors in the HUB parking deck.
There will be handmade clay pots made by students as door prizes and free succulents for Penn State students to take home. Prizes include gardening books, garden supplies and seedlings, which have been donated by Chelsea Green Publishing, Floret Farms and the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm. For more information, visit the website.
Any questions can be directed to Leslie Pillen at lrp143@psu.edu.
About the Sustainable Food Systems Network at Penn State
The Sustainable Food Systems Network includes the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm at Penn State, Student Farm Club, Food Recovery Network, the inter-college Food Systems Minor, and Course-Client Collaborations. The goal of the program is to develop students’ knowledge about sustainable agriculture practices while providing hands-on learning opportunities and positively contributing to the community.